[24] Deptford is a southeastern suburb of Philadelphia, located on the eastern side of the Walt Whitman Bridge, one of several bridges that join Deptford Township with Philadelphia, the nation's sixth-largest city as of 2020.

Dutch explorer Cornelius Jacobsen May led some of the earliest European settlement in the area.

May was followed by settlers from Sweden and Finland before the area ultimately came under British colonial rule.

[24][27] Clement Oak in Deptford, an old oak tree estimated to have sprouted between 1555 and 1615, was the site of the first hot air balloon landing in North America when Jean-Pierre Blanchard completed his flight to Deptford from Philadelphia in 1793.

During his flight, Blanchard carried a personal letter from George Washington to be delivered to the owner of whatever property Blanchard landed on, making the flight the first airmail delivery in the nation.

[28] On September 1, 2021, Deptford Township was hit by a strong EF3 tornado with winds up to 150 miles per hour (240 km/h) produced by the remnants of Hurricane Ida.

[31][32] Oak Valley, with a 2010 census population of 3,483,[33] is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located in Deptford Township.

[34] Other unincorporated communities, localities, and places located partially or completely within the township include Almonesson, Blackwood Terrace, Clements Bridge, Cooper Village, Country Club Estates, Good Intent, Hammond Heights, Jericho, Lake Tract, New Sharon, Oak Valley, Salina, Westcottville, Westville Grove, Woodbury Gardens, Woodbury Park, and Woodbury Terrace.

[27][35] The 2010 United States census counted 30,561 people, 11,689 households, and 7,995 families in the township.

Originally a forest that was turned into an asparagus field and then a golf course, the land was preserved through efforts of the South Jersey Land and Water Trust, the Friends of Tall Pines, Gloucester County Nature Club, and the New Jersey Green Acres Program.

The council hires an independent manager to serve as the chief administrative official of the township.

The Township Manager is Thomas Newman Jr.[5] As of 2025[update], members of the Deptford Township Council are Mayor Paul Medany (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2027; term as mayor ends 2025), Deputy Mayor Tom Hufnell (D, term on committee ends 2027; term as deputy mayor ends 2025), Kenneth Barnshaw (D, 2025), Bill Lamb (D, 2025), Brandi Leidy (D, 2027), Wayne Love (D, 2025) and Phillip Schocklin (D, 2025).

[59][60][61] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 1st congressional district is represented by Donald Norcross (D, Camden).

[64] For the 2024-2025 session, the 5th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D, Barrington) and in the General Assembly by Bill Moen (D, Camden) and William Spearman (D, Camden).

[95] As of the 2020–21 school year, the district had an enrollment of 3,942 students and 329.8 classroom teachers on an FTE basis for a student–teacher ratio of 12.0:1.

[107][108][109][110][111] Gloucester County students are eligible to apply to attend Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a four-year high school in Deptford Township that provides technical and vocational education.

[113][114] Gloucester County College, now part of Rowan College of South Jersey, opened in Deptford Township in 1968, with classes held at Monongahela Junior High School and Deptford Township High School.

[124] A very short section of Interstate 295 passes through the township for .07 miles (0.11 km).

[125] NJ Transit bus service is available to Philadelphia from Deptford Township on the 400, 401, 402, 408, 410, and 412 routes.

[126][127] People who were born in, residents of, or closely associated with Deptford Township include: Deptford Township is featured briefly in the film Patti Smith: Dream of Life, a 2008 documentary about rock musician Patti Smith.